Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery Butterfly CuGfQiDxfhsQjATfuFntLrooUhtlFI

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Xiao Bao rushed into Master Jin’s bedroom, with Huai En following closely behind. The room was already crowded with people.MjmiQrOyGjJEhZIPJaSZJbDiimWYdD

Madam Jin sat by the bed, wiping her tears. When she saw Xiao Bao, her tears flowed even more uncontrollably.SmhJyFBbNTkUqLCTsZjGGPOvNMmbCx

Xiao Bao’s heart tightened as he rushed to the bedside. His father lay on the bed, his face pale, limbs twitching, lips purple, and a low, gasping sound coming from his throat, like it was being choked off intermittently.lfaGsLFzasdFDbqnJnhlxLWbtrQSFM

Xiao Bao’s heart clenched, and tears streamed down his face.NkkqhcuYJEZYAJYTamvfQaOOQglGty

Kneeling by the bed, he dared not touch his father. “Dad, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me! Mom, what’s happening to Dad?”EwjnBcyPfDQaJoUoPtLrXACepKmrCb

Madam Jin sobbed, “Your father has been unwell for a while. Today, he suddenly started coughing uncontrollably and then fainted.”ciBTWyQvQSnLXsqnfOJqVKNsThHusb

“Have you called for the doctor?”xuUAhTtJVYvzHjjBQBfgkwvGWTTivv

“On the way.”hCLhHDrCAzyivZNRxtlWAmLREkuNyG

“What about the pills Doctor Zhang prescribed? Did he take them?”AjvuTZpxeeZHYVDviyqhSkaozCAnPG

“He did, and the coughing stopped after that. But just now it seemed like he was about to cough up his heart. Xiao Bao… I’m so scared…”DjslSVGsEvNWCbffVqOBJYMbeKpPWa

Xiao Bao hugged his mother, comforting her softly, then turned and shouted at the servants, “Where is the doctor? Why isn’t he here yet?!”JtaMGKFtaWmzZXBARaemEDuWuPMvHo

“Young Master, Zhao Cai and Jin Bao went to get him. They should be here any moment.”YacnSiAxvXtdqDyziGHPRlIYnrlfng

Xiao Bao looked back at his father, unable to bear it. He had been so focused on pleasing Huai En recently that he hadn’t visited his father in days. His father seemed to have aged several years in such a short time. He berated himself for being unfilial, his heart aching with guilt.LFOKWgdcHolxlpdgLjQFVMyrEYcfOs

Huai En, who had been standing silently, suddenly moved to Master Jin’s bedside, taking Master Jin’s wrist and feeling his pulse.OZZsEqsbFwHmLQtemPZaIqYdxtpglX

Madam Jin, a bit nervous, said, “What are you doing? Don’t touch my husband!”TDgGsuAIrgCOOoRhiWCxgrjIhGtuzd

Huai En channeled his inner energy into Master Jin through his pulse and said slowly, “His chest is congested qi, making it hard for him to breathe. I’ll help alleviate it for now.” Without turning his head, he instructed Xiao Bao, “Clear the room of unnecessary people. The more people, the less air.”wwLhHbUGwtnYmJihLvtbslQLGKNQah

Xiao Bao hurriedly stood up, “Yes, yes, everyone leave. Once the doctor arrives, bring him in immediately.”YrWbAUsyWonJhVyPlrYXJmZvcRwFsu

Madam Jin watched as her husband’s pallid face slowly regained some color and his convulsions began to subside. She was immensely grateful to Huai En, repeatedly thanking him.TCKOlEYAQDiDkTIiQgjoDJjAksemzP

Xiao Bao looked at Huai En with gratitude. He felt reassured that he hadn’t misjudged him. Huai En wasn’t heartless; he had many admirable qualities and was incredibly capable. His affection for Huai En felt completely justified.WhapAUCTvRHhWnmjGjKgcdhzMgSsrm

Four doctors arrived one after another, surrounding Master Jin, feeling his pulse and discussing his condition. After a long night, Master Jin’s condition stabilized, and he fell into a deep sleep.fimuwGiJMVLkkfwIcMdNBoSeTqCzOB

Xiao Bao and Madam Jin discussed bringing a doctor to live in the mansion permanently.uHZVVaWbRNNsWIqYHObpnaoWMauoXW

Madam Jin nodded, “Your father used to just have occasional coughing fits, but it’s been getting worse recently. Sigh… perhaps it’s his age. His health isn’t what it used to be. We should indeed have a doctor reside here.”JwHtwoBfPwhpAPEYwRrclGVqqJTTYx

Xiao Bao gently patted his mother’s back, comforting her softly, “Mother, leave this matter to me. You should take a break from managing the businesses for a while. The stewards are experienced enough to handle things. You need to stay home, rest, and spend time with Father. Nothing is more important than health.”ajBbOMindWiGyfodJmEuSsOLqDdSfb

“Yes, I’ve been thinking the same. Your father’s health is declining day by day… I’m truly worried…” Madam Jin began to cry again.AQOieQjKPgMWQAQnouURNyFlUaBUwY

Xiao Bao quickly shook his head, “No, no, Mother, you’re overthinking it. Father is just getting older, and it’s natural to have some health issues. With the Jin family’s wealth, there’s no illness we can’t treat. Father is blessed and will surely live a long life.”IaHZVWBqsoVLMpvyUNNUPYNfjuZNOP

Despite their words, both knew it was merely to comfort themselves. When the Lord of Death calls, no amount of wealth or power can deter it. No matter how hard people try to cling to life, they can’t fight against fate.mbHhtIkirrRbbzOzBKOaCaucDtKyZM

Xiao Bao continued to softly and gently converse with Madam Jin for a while, eventually persuading her to go to bed.fDTwcUqHXawvYVvjyrGLpdQNiIpSCa

After a long, sleepless night, everyone was utterly exhausted.lQrkceEnrcwNkaWumJkQhYmSFpwdmV

Huai En stood quietly beside him, showing no signs of fatigue. In front of others, he always seemed to be in a state of profound emptiness, his eyes filled with a void. Yet, his appearance was impossible to ignore, exuding a noble, almost celestial aura, with a strong sense of aloofness.aotzFnXvIHWkWYVOjjfkGwiwMaeHIs

Xiao Bao walked over to thank him.vOfCjLqPuFUMeDVXfbzeuKiqcKVPwS

Huai En nodded lightly, then looked at him with a mix of hesitation and confusion. “Why are you all so sad?”AhBorjDeRKBKyXSNYvzYhxxrmprGBU

“What?”YwxaASbtEWLrkcpCneTMnLjdTceALv

Huai En gazed at him, his eyes seeming to look through Xiao Bao into some indescribable distance. “Birth, aging, sickness, and death, the natural progression of life, is something even a three-year-old understands. Why are you all so sad?”EzgBwAAEsbAeqFgoIyXjjEjlRcsXBW

Xiao Bao felt a lump in his throat, unsure how to respond.bXSRYApdFMibrLVnHfXFtjHsNoYfsn

“If your father dies, will you remember him and be sad for the rest of your life?”morngQWocSQiguYCdsWfeshgmuzKrY

The question was quite offensive, but Xiao Bao knew what kind of person Huai En was. Expecting him to grasp human emotions and social norms was impossible. So, he carefully chose his words, “If my father really… I would indeed be very sad and remember him for the rest of my life. Although everyone dies eventually, having people who care means there will be sadness. This too is a common human experience, something even a three-year-old understands.”WslvqZTLWknxwgeYByJNgLFGJaPOUc

Huai En nodded. “…So will you be sad for your entire life?”SplREwYeDIKoUcGEKBfhXiUIsmnviK

Xiao Bao pondered for a moment. “No… at first, I’ll be sad for a long time, but gradually it will fade. Only when I think of him will I feel especially sad. But life goes on; one can’t be perpetually engulfed in sorrow. My father wouldn’t want that.”nipvKaIPzBKxlqSIhKNpjubipHPzUX

“Is that also a common human nature?”USeKgqUCAEcIZginuJXSKvtKEtLQTg

Xiao Bao nodded.HVmUyKcowlFxgaALehndoTojdjarHP

“Then why can some people mourn someone’s death for ten or twenty years, or even be in pain for a lifetime?”JFuaGmIaSumdIzpDfiuIGDuzKesjXY

“That might be… perhaps because that person didn’t die peacefully, maybe was killed by an enemy. If that’s the case, the pain might last a lifetime.”mAdTzRnrtmRQoGmhhupvUeKtRKjUxV

Huai En felt a sudden realization. “I see. So only by avenging will things get better?”vAAvJFkaCMJuxWonMMfbYBmDvHEoAE

Xiao Bao shook his head. “Avenging won’t make things better. If you keep holding on to hatred for ten or twenty years, you’ll end up wasting half your life, leaving only revenge in your fate.”GeycFlcTapqOyuslKrmTVpYIzdilgj

Huai En said nothing. After a while, he asked, “How do you understand these things?”KPeEYekOVSaYNKrtrsmBPsmrexarRF

Xiao Bao coughed lightly, clasped his hands behind his back, and gazed at the dawn light emerging on the horizon. He sighed deeply, “I am a few years older than you. I’ve seen more of life’s grievances and hatreds, naturally understanding more.” After speaking, he forced a look of desolation on his face, though he felt somewhat guilty. These words were originally used by Su Yin to console Xiao Yu, but Huai En wouldn’t have a chance to know that.YRoxERcSndvaOkwVdMpFcKCVqFieyP

Huai En, not impressed by him using age as an argument, was about to retort sarcastically.QDGnUUxxCERAHOkSgKAhMUhFmFadwx

But Xiao Bao spoke first, “You talk so much. Do you have someone like that around you?”YRFLfAnHXCCNJLFpqHwxRJhTgYHkQN

Huai En was taken aback. He turned his head slightly, as if thinking of something. The air around him suddenly grew cold, and his voice turned icy. “That’s none of your business.” With that, he turned and left.ckhXzngOkxorMifMbBMwluzldkTcdH

Xiao Bao stood there, dumbfounded, watching him go. He couldn’t help but find the man’s capriciousness both laughable and frustrating.NObLXISSlMEeQxeVXqhVweoMhoKONH

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